Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'India should do justice to Nepal' that was published in Newsband

India should do justice to Nepal
Inviting Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa to New Delhi is a good move by India. The mistrust that has marked the relationship in the past two months between the two countries should end.
There is a need to end the pile-up of trucks at the border in Bihar that Nepal terms an unofficial blockade, and of bringing the new Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, to Delhi for talks. Another task for the Indian government is to help Nepal build on its Constitution. It is also necessary to undo the perception that New Delhi is interfering in the neighbour’s internal processes, and worse, ‘punishing’ Nepal for not acceding to its wishes. It is time to turn attention to the struggles of the ordinary citizen of Nepal, a country that has been battered by an earthquake and ruptured by internal divisions and brutal clashes. It is suffering without electricity, food and essential medicines. A small start at rebuilding trust should be achieved. Indo-Nepal relation must be built on convictions of mutual trust, goodwill and benefit.
There was a feeling among the Nepalis that India's policy has been aimed at generating "intrinsic instability" in Nepal. But with the rise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his two fruitful visits to Nepal, the speedy and generous support during recent earthquake, and Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj's matter of fact retort reportedly made during her last visit to Nepal to a group of disgruntled - and defeated in last election - Madhesi politicians regarding their claims of discrimination, all suggested fundamental shift in the foreign policy.
A good relationship with the neighbour is important in building trust and safeguard for the country against any type of terror attack. But helping Nepal after all the natural calamities it has suffered is a step forward in building relationships.
It is a very wise step taken up by both the nation. It is the step that may reconstruct the unique relationship of friendship and cooperation accompanied by linguistic, cultural and civilizational link with wide ranging economic ties that once prevailed between both the nation right from the time of integration of princely states into Indian union. If we see it diplomatically it also slows down or ceases the Beijing's intervention in the Himalayan state. China is constantly trying to seize the opportunity of influencing Nepal's constitutional framework as China is afraid that federal system proposed by India could lead to anti China activities and troubles in Tibet.
Before the laying of the constitution, Nepal cannot go for the development in a witty manner. Interim talks are welcome by the ministry of external affairs in all matters relating to the soft core issues like road building between Nepal and India, reconstructing Nepal city once more and bilateral communication between the two neighbours. Sure, India's role is not divisive but to reunite Nepal without any frontiers and distaste in politics.
When Nepal is undergoing negative pressure, India can act as community between the frontiers to give positive approach to Nepal to introduce Equality, Justice, Freedom and Development in its constitution rather perfect solution. In chaos, the dialogue is must.
There has always been tension between the plains people (of Terai) and the Hills people which the Royalty sharpened by attempting to change the demography of the Terai (just as the Chinese did in Xinjiang by relocating the Han or the Pakistanis did in Gilgit by relocating the Sunnis in a Shia dominant region) with the Hills people. The second drafting of the Constitution saw India asking Nepal to treat both regions fairly, a promise that Nepali leaders gave to India, but which has been breached in spite of last minute attempts by our Foreign Secretary. The Terai people feel shortchanged and are angry.

What Nepal needs is a humanitarian friendship and not 'opportunistic' friendship. 

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